Sick Beauty and His Bamboo Horse Bodyguard

After Sheng Jianan died, he transmigrated into a novel called “Childhood Sweetheart Can’t Defeat Heavenly Tribulation” and became the cannon fodder childhood friend with the same name who will die from an illness sooner or later. On the day he transmigrated, the little cannon fodder was sitting on the ground, sick and weak, when he saw a soccer ball flying towards him. Sheng Jianan instinctively closed his eyes, but when he opened them again, he saw a handsome, cool and aloof boy using his back to block the ball for him under the light and shadow of the trees. From then on, Jiang Chi took on the role of his bodyguard and they grew up together as intimate friends and childhood sweethearts. ✬ After transmigrating, Sheng Jianan cherished this opportunity and decided to take good care of his health and live well. Jiang Chi was also very attentive to him, holding him carefully and afraid of dropping him, and keeping him in his mouth for fear of melting away. The two of them were almost inseparable from childhood to adulthood, and all their classmates and friends would tease them as a couple, but over time everyone also knew that Jiang Chi was a straight man. Sheng Jianan also knew that before meeting the destined protagonist, Jiang Chi was a true straight man who would retreat at the sight of gays. So he always kept his feelings hidden and stayed in his place. When the protagonist appeared, Sheng Jianan silently packed his bags and left for a distant place. However, what he didn’t know was that during the few days he disappeared, Jiang Chi searched the entire Xia City for him. On the day he found him, Sheng Jianan was watching a handsome guy performing a strip tease on stage. Suddenly, a pair of familiar large hands covered his eyes and a sinister voice whispered in his ear, “Nannan, my body is better than his, why don’t you watch me instead?” Sheng Jianan later learned that he had read a harmful pirated fanfiction and in fact, Jiang Chi was the one who bent the straight man according to destiny. Cold and sickly beauty shou X Extremely possessive and doting gong.

Original Publisher

jjwxc

Original Language

chinese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on Sick Beauty and His Bamboo Horse Bodyguard Okay, so I dove into "Sick Beauty and His Bamboo Horse Bodyguard" with a mix of curiosity and excitement, given the cute title and promising tags. The premise of a sickly MC and his overly protective childhood friend definitely piqued my interest. ### First Impressions Initially, I was charmed by the dynamic between Sheng Jianan (the MC) and Jiang Chi (the ML). The whole "unaware of his own feelings" trope with the ML is a classic, and the initial chapters do a decent job of showcasing their close, almost unnaturally intimate relationship. The setup, where the MC transmigrates and tries to avoid his fated heartbreak by leaving before the original protagonist arrives, had me hooked and ready for some angst. ### What Works Well The core concept is undeniably appealing. The idea of a "cold, possessive, overprotective" ML, especially one who's oblivious to his own feelings, has a certain charm. I also appreciated the MC's initial decision to distance himself from the ML to avoid the original tragic ending. The descriptions of the ML's possessiveness are intriguing, and the translator's work appears to be well-received, which is always a huge plus. ### Areas of Concern However, as I progressed, some issues started to surface. The pacing felt off, with the story seemingly dragging on despite its relatively short length. The ML's "menacingly protective" behavior started to feel less endearing and more… stalker-ish. Several readers felt that it was too much, and I started to agree. The MC's passivity also became a problem; his lack of self-assertion made it difficult to connect with him. It felt like the author was stretching out the story with repetitive scenarios, like conveniently timed phone calls to interrupt any progress. I also felt that the characters lacked depth, and their backgrounds felt underdeveloped. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning (Highlight to Read) Some readers felt the conflict was minor and not between the main couple, leading to a less engaging plot. The ML is also described as a "pusher" and the MC as a "pushover," which doesn't make for a healthy relationship dynamic. ### Final Verdict "Sick Beauty and His Bamboo Horse Bodyguard" has a cute premise and some genuinely charming moments, especially in the beginning. However, the pacing issues, the ML's borderline obsessive behavior, and the MC's lack of agency ultimately detract from the overall enjoyment. It's a light and fluffy read if you're looking for something mindless, but don't expect a complex plot or deeply developed characters. Overall, it's a mixed bag, leaning more towards a 3/5 for me.